Acute primary gastric volvulus occurring after overeating in a 12-year-old girl

Abstract

Gastric volvulus is a rare cause of recurrent abdominal pain or vomiting. This report presents a case of a 12-year-old girl with acute gastric volvulus and 2-hour history of epigastric pain after overeating. Computed tomography showed severe gastric distension without other abnormal findings. The gastric fluid decompressed through a nasogastric tube was approximately 4,000 mL in volume and non-bilious in color. Upper gastrointestinal series showed organo-axial volvulus without intestinal malrotation. Emergency laparotomy was performed. Because the color of stomach was pinkish, detorsion of the volvulus and gastropexy was performed. Postoperatively, the girl recovered uneventfully.

Keywords

• abdominal pain
• adolescent
• gastric dilatation
• laparotomy
• stomach volvulus
• upper gastrointestinal tract